Strawberry plant named ‘PS-3.108’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘PS-3.108’. This new strawberry plant named ‘PS-3.108’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California, and is primarily characterized by its dark red to red fruit color, large to very large fruit size, medium plant vigor, conical fruit shape, firm fruit flesh, and early fruit ripening.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘PS-3.108’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘PS-3.108’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2003 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry variety designated ‘PS-1269’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,686) and strawberry variety designated ‘PS-4634’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487). Due to the combining of the reciprocal seed lots, it is unknown as to which parent variety is the seed parent and which parent variety is the pollen parent. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from a controlled breeding plot in Monterey County, Calif. in the summer of 2005. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in both San Joaquin County, Calif. and Siskiyou County, Calif. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Monterey County, Calif. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘PS-3.108’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate temperatures to produce a strong vigorous plant and maintain fruit quality during the April through November production months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘PS-3.108’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. Dark red to red fruit color;     -   2. Large to very large fruit size;     -   3. Medium plant vigor;     -   4. Conical fruit shape;     -   5. Firm fruit flesh; and     -   6. Early fruit ripening

The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new variety ‘PS-3.108’ is ‘PS-4634’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487). In side-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry variety ‘PS-4634’, ‘PS-3.108’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 COMPARISON TO THE STANDARD VARIETY ‘PS-4634’ Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487) Fruit color Ranges from red Ranges from orange red to to dark red red Average marketable 1,969 grams/plant 1,689 grams/plant yield Difference in shape Ranges from none Moderate between primary and to very slight secondary fruit Size of calyx in Slightly larger Same size relationship to fruit diameter Firmness of flesh Firm Medium Expression of hollow Weak Strong center Plant size Medium Large Foliage color Ranges from light Medium green to medium yellow green Foliage shape in cross Ranges from lightly Ranges from lightly section to strongly concave concave to flat

For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.

‘PS-3.108’ differs from its parents, ‘PS-1269’ and ‘PS-4634’ by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 COMPARISON TO THE PARENT VARIETIES ‘PS-1269’ ‘PS-4634’ (U.S. Plant (U.S. Plant Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ Pat. No. 10,686) Pat. No. 17,487) Fruit color Ranges from red Red Ranges from to dark red orange red to red Average 1,969 grams/plant 1,443 grams/plant 1,689 grams/ marketable yield plant Difference in Ranges from none Ranges from Moderate shape between to very slight moderate to primary and marked secondary fruit Fruit gloss Medium Ranges from Strong weak to medium

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘PS-3.108’, at various stages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical descriptions which accurately describe the color of ‘PS-3.108’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘PS-3.108’ are between eight and nine months old. The photographs were taken in Monterey County, Calif.:

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘PS-3.108’, taken in the month of July 2011;

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical leaf structure of ‘PS-3.108’, taken in the month of July 2011;

FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘PS-3.108’, taken in the month of July 2011; and

FIG. 4 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristics of ‘PS-3.108’, taken in the month of August 2011.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new variety ‘PS-3.108’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety ‘PS-3.108’ may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location. In addition, the characteristics of any parental variety or comparison variety included in Tables 1-9 of the present invention may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following description of the new variety ‘PS-3.108’, unless otherwise noted, are based on observations taken during the 2011 growing season in Monterey County, Calif. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘PS-3.108’ dug from a high-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County, Calif. during mid October 2010 and planted between two and three weeks later in Monterey County, Calif. The approximate age of the observed plants is between eight and nine months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from three years of data collected from the 2008 through 2010 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color terminology where noted follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (2007).

The following tables 3 through 9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘PS-3.108’ in comparison to the similar strawberry variety ‘PS-4634’.

TABLE 3 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-4634’ (U.S. Plant Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ Pat. No. 17,487) Color of mature fruit RHS 46A RHS 45B Ranges from red to Ranges from orange red dark red to red Color of internal flesh RHS 44B RHS 44C Medium red Ranges from light red to medium red Fruit length (cm) 4.5 4.3 Fruit width (cm) 3.8 3.9 Fruit length/width ratio 1.17 1.11 Slightly longer than Slightly longer than broad broad Calyx diameter (cm) 4.2 4.0 Average fruit weight 29.6 27.7 (gm) Achene color, shaded RHS 162B RHS 162C side Greyed yellow Greyed yellow group group Achene color, sun- RHS 184B RHS 184C exposed side Greyed purple group Greyed purple group Achenes per berry 438 437 Achene weight (mg) 0.52 0.40 Marketable fruit yield 1,969 1,689 (gm/plant) Fruit size Ranges from large to Ranges from large to very large very large Predominant fruit shape Conical Conical Difference in shapes None or very slight Moderate between primary and secondary fruit Band without achenes Absent or very Narrow narrow Unevenness of fruit Absent or very weak Weak surface Evenness of fruit color Even Ranges from slightly uneven to even Fruit glossiness Medium Strong Insertion of achenes Level with surface Level with surface Insertion of calyx In basin Ranges from in basin to level Attitude of calyx Spreading Ranges from spreading to reflexed Size of calyx in relation Slightly larger Same size to fruit diameter Adherence of calyx Strong Strong Firmness of fruit skin Strong Strong Firmness of fruit flesh Firm Medium Keeping quality Very good Very good Distribution of red color Marginal and central Marginal and central of the flesh Hollow center expression Weak Strong Fruit flavor Good Very good Soluble solids (% brix) 7.4 8.3 Time of first flowering Early Early Time of first harvesting Early Early Harvest period Late March to Late March to November November Type of bearing June bearing June bearing

TABLE 4 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-4634’ Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487) Plant height (cm) 25.3 28.8 Plant spread (cm) 33.9 39.1 Plant size Medium Large Plant habit Globose Globose Plant density Medium Medium Plant vigor Medium Strong

TABLE 5 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-4634’ Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487) Stolon color RHS 146D RHS 146D Yellow green group Yellow green group Stolon anthocyanin RHS 182A RHS 182D coloration Greyed red group Greyed red group Stolon anthocyanin Weak Ranges from weak to medium intensity Stolon pubescence Medium Ranges from weak to medium Attitude of hairs Upward Upward Average stolon Ranges from Ranges from medium to many quantity medium to many Stolon diameter 3.7 3.4 at bract (mm)

TABLE 6 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-4634’ Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487) Foliage: Color of upper RHS 146A RHS 137A surface Ranges from light Medium green yellow green to medium yellow green Color of underside RHS 147C RHS 147C Yellow green group Yellow green group Number of leaflets 3 3 Shape in cross Strongly to slightly Slightly concave to flat section concave Interveinal blistering Ranges from medium Ranges from medium to to strong strong Leaf glossiness Ranges from medium Ranges from medium to to strong strong Terminal Leaflet: Length (cm) 8.5 9.5 Width (cm) 7.7 6.9 Leaf size Ranges from large to Ranges from large to medium medium Length/width ratio 1.11 1.36 Longer than broad Much longer than broad Shape of base Obtuse Acute Shape of teeth Obtuse Obtuse Serrations per leaf 18.7 22.1 Petiole: Petiole color RHS 145A RHS 145A Yellow green group Yellow green group Petiole length (cm) 15.6 20.2 Petiole diameter 4.0 4.4 (mm) Petiolule color RHS 145A RHS 145A Yellow green group Yellow green group Petiolule length 9.7 7.8 (mm) Attitude of hairs Strongly outward Strongly outward Petiole pubescence Moderate Ranges from moderate to sparse Stipule: Color RHS 146B RHS 146B Yellow green group Yellow green group Anthocyanin RHS 63A RHS 58A coloration Red purple group Red purple group Anthocyanin Strong Strong intensity Length (mm) 18.1 18.7 Width (mm) 9.9 8.3

TABLE 7 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-4634’ Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487) Anthocyanin coloration RHS 181C RHS 182D Greyed red group Greyed red group Anthocyanin intensity Absent or very weak Absent or very weak Length at maturity (cm) 29.5 35.3 Position relative to Level with Level with foliage Pubescence Medium Ranges from weak to medium Attitude at first pick Prostrate Prostrate

TABLE 8 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-4634’ Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487) Petal color RHS NN 155C RHS NN 155C White group White group Sepal color RHS 137C RHS 137A Green group Green group Corolla diameter (mm) 26.3 29.9 Calyx diameter (mm) 36.5 35.7 Petal length (mm) 11.3 12.3 Petal width (mm) 12.0 12.5 Petal length/width ratio 0.94 0.98 Petals/flower 6.8 5.6 Sepal length (mm) 13.9 12.8 Sepal width (mm) 5.8 5.2 Sepal length/width ratio 2.40 2.46 Sepals/flower 13.7 11.3 Size of calyx relative to Larger Larger corolla Size of inner calyx relative Ranges from Ranges from same to larger to outer calyx smaller to same Relative position of petals Overlapping Overlapping

TABLE 9 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS ‘PS-4634’ Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487) Powdery mildew Moderate Moderately resistant Angular leaf spot Susceptible Susceptible Botrytis fruit rot Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible Two-spotted Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible spider mite Lygus bug Susceptible Susceptible Flower thrips Moderately resistant Moderately susceptible 

1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘PS-3.108’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 